(212) 253-9966

185 Ave C (nr. 11th St.)
New York, NY 10009 40.7268 -73.977

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Neighborhoods: Alphabet City, East Village, Downtown

Years in business

Established in 2002

Hours:

Mon-Thurs 5pm-11pm

Fri-Sat 4pm-2am

Sun 12pm-11pm

Price:

$$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining

Cuisine:

Cuban

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About cafecito

Featured Review

Kara Zuaro

Contributor

The Scene – On a well-traveled stretch of Avenue C, this storefront offers some of the most authentic Cuban flavors this side of the embargo. At a white-tiled bar, singles snack on tostones con ajo, fried plantains with an intensely garlicky dipping sauce, or sip sangria and mojitos as they await take-out orders. In the adjacent dining room, with low lights and bright Caribbean music, a young crowd squeezes into cozy tables. – – The Food – A tempting and inexpensive menu makes it easy to try something new, and bollos, flavorful hush puppies studded with sweet corn and…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Make sure you've got enough cash--Cafecito doesn't take credit cards.
Save Money:
The Saborcito (little taste) of Cuba allows diners to sample a bunch of appetizers, including bollos, empanadas, and ham croquettes, for one low price.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Excellent sangria and mojitos, very solid food, and great romantic ambience.”
  2. “The ambience is great for all occasions.”
  3. “Cafecito is a cozy, warm environment and I have to say the drinks were very good but.”
  4. “Is a small place very comfortable with good service and very prizes.”
  5. “If you like good Cuban food and you like an intimate atmosphere and you like to have a dining experience that leaves you feeling good about life.”
  6. “went in the winter and the ambience was fabulous: cozy and warm.”
  7. “Nice atmosphere.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Their flourless chocolate cake, if you saved enough room for dessert is pretty darn good.”
  2. “The prices are right and the menu covers all the main appetizers,soups,main dishes, deserts & beverages you would find at Miami's favorite places, plus taste very good.”
drinks
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “made friends with Staff I might say really quick because I love drinks and eating great latin food, and I thought highly of Owners/ Manager/ staff.”
  2. “for a cold beer with some chums or dinner with the family, even the mid-day break, cafesito is hot.”
  3. “Cafecito is a cozy, warm environment and I have to say the drinks were very good but.”
  4. “This place has the best, most authentic Cuban food in this city bar none and at very good prices.”
  5. “*Drinks: Thick, fresh fruit shakes are delicious, and hard to find Cuban classics in beer and soda are worth the trip.”
  6. “Great mojitos and cafe con leche mixed drinks.”
food quality
96.47000312805176% positive
  1. “Excellent sangria, friendly waitstaff, and the food - awesome.”
  2. “The onions were tasty though and so were the black beans.”
  3. “Large portions like your mother would make you with just enough fat to make it tasty but not too greasy.”
  4. “For mains I recommend the ropa vieja or the fried breaded steak.”
  5. “However, the food was absolutely delicious!”
  6. “Friday would not be Friday without a great meal at Cafecito.”
  7. “This place is not good for big groups because the tables are very small and close together, but the food is very tasty, authentically presented and culinarily accurate.”
  8. “lean meats, hearty sandwiches and abundant portions give this establishment the edge over other spots in manhattan for cuban dishes.”
  9. “If I want a good cuban meal there are about all over the city and authentic cuban meals.”
  10. “Cafecito is, by far, the best, unpretentious Cuban food in NYC.”
  11. “The prices are right and the menu covers all the main appetizers,soups,main dishes, deserts & beverages you would find at Miami's favorite places, plus taste very good.”
  12. “"The Cuban Cafe", under the blue awning true ethnic food only better, all ingredients are fresh and the grilling just right.”
  13. “Delicious Cuban food, really great value and surprisingly clean.”
  14. “the roasted chicken dish is the best.”
  15. “made friends with Staff I might say really quick because I love drinks and eating great latin food, and I thought highly of Owners/ Manager/ staff.”
  16. “The small portions of not great-tasting food were always overpriced.”
  17. “Good beats, nice people, price is right nice to see all the honeys and you can sit outside at the lunch counter, have a mojito or two, eat good food and feel like you are somewher in Key West 50 yrs ago.”
  18. “If you like good Cuban food and you like an intimate atmosphere and you like to have a dining experience that leaves you feeling good about life.”
  19. “Invited friends for great food, especially cuban burgers and great mojitos.”
  20. “The service was just right, and the food was delicious.”
  21. “It's one thing if a restaurant serves delicious fare, but when it serves such generous portions as well!”
  22. “*Drinks: Thick, fresh fruit shakes are delicious, and hard to find Cuban classics in beer and soda are worth the trip.”
  23. “Overall, excellent value, excellent food.”
  24. “The food is great and for a reasonable price.”
  25. “The red sangria compliments the mouthwatering selection of crispy beef (vaca frita).”
  26. “Best Cuban food in the city!”
  27. “Excellent sangria and mojitos, very solid food, and great romantic ambience.”
  28. “The guys running the place did a fantastic job on the interior, the food is addictive - better than anything you'll get at a chain (the fried plantains are awesome) and the price can't be beat!”
  29. “The combination of fresh quality meat on that oh so crisp freshly pressed Cuban bread is perfect.”
  30. “the best pork sandwich, hands down”
  31. “This place has the best, most authentic Cuban food in this city bar none and at very good prices.”
  32. “My favorites include the Churrasco Steak accompanied with their version of the chimichurri sauce which perfectly blends the olive oil and parsley so there's not one ingredient that's over powering, atop their saffron rice with the side of cinnamon-glazed ”
  33. “In my 10 years of living in NYC since moving from Miami, I have yet to come across a place with authentic cuban classics that taste as good as places like Versailles, La Carreta, & Puerto Sagua,etc., until this nice find.”
  34. “It recently has become my favorite dish, edging slightly above the Ropa Vieja.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The red sangria compliments the mouthwatering selection of crispy beef (vaca frita).”
  2. “The prices are right and the menu covers all the main appetizers,soups,main dishes, deserts & beverages you would find at Miami's favorite places, plus taste very good.”
  3. “*Ambience: Busy Diner- complete with wide variety of customers, clanking kitchen and friendly, talkative servers.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “this is my new favorite restaurant in the east village.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “can't wait to go back when the weather warms up--sit outside, have a perfect sangria.”
service
89.28999900817871% positive
  1. “*Ambience: Busy Diner- complete with wide variety of customers, clanking kitchen and friendly, talkative servers.”
  2. “Mediocre service, but still one of my favorites!”
  3. “We love the staff, too.”
  4. “Good service”
  5. “Is a small place very comfortable with good service and very prizes.”
  6. “When you walk through the door of this quaint little place not only are the owners and staff super friendly but so are the people who go there.”
  7. “The staff is always warm and welcoming.”
  8. “Excellent sangria, friendly waitstaff, and the food - awesome.”
  9. “Very friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff.”
  10. “Good beats, nice people, price is right nice to see all the honeys and you can sit outside at the lunch counter, have a mojito or two, eat good food and feel like you are somewher in Key West 50 yrs ago.”
  11. “The service was just right, and the food was delicious.”
  12. “Food is not too expensive, service is always solid.”
  13. “made friends with Staff I might say really quick because I love drinks and eating great latin food, and I thought highly of Owners/ Manager/ staff.”
  14. “it's a great neighborhood spot, but service can be maddeningly slow when it gets busy.”
value
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “lean meats, hearty sandwiches and abundant portions give this establishment the edge over other spots in manhattan for cuban dishes.”
  2. “Overall, excellent value, excellent food.”
  3. “Good beats, nice people, price is right nice to see all the honeys and you can sit outside at the lunch counter, have a mojito or two, eat good food and feel like you are somewher in Key West 50 yrs ago.”
  4. “*Drinks: Thick, fresh fruit shakes are delicious, and hard to find Cuban classics in beer and soda are worth the trip.”
  5. “The prices are right and the menu covers all the main appetizers,soups,main dishes, deserts & beverages you would find at Miami's favorite places, plus taste very good.”
  6. “explained politely that I must have misheard him, and that I probably wouldn't have come given that this made the pre-fixe relatively expensive.”
  7. “It's one thing if a restaurant serves delicious fare, but when it serves such generous portions as well!”
  8. “Delicious Cuban food, really great value and surprisingly clean.”
  9. “The small portions of not great-tasting food were always overpriced.”
  10. “And it is generally a good value.”
  11. “This place has the best, most authentic Cuban food in this city bar none and at very good prices.”
  12. “the pollo cafecito is so good & huge!”
  13. “The obvious point of distinction is their reasonable prices.”
  14. “The food is great and for a reasonable price.”
  15. “Large portions like your mother would make you with just enough fat to make it tasty but not too greasy.”
  16. “The guys running the place did a fantastic job on the interior, the food is addictive - better than anything you'll get at a chain (the fried plantains are awesome) and the price can't be beat!”
  17. “Food is not too expensive, service is always solid.”
  18. “prices are very reasonable.”
wait time
75.0% positive
  1. “made friends with Staff I might say really quick because I love drinks and eating great latin food, and I thought highly of Owners/ Manager/ staff.”
  2. “it's a great neighborhood spot, but service can be maddeningly slow when it gets busy.”
3 Star Rating: Average

06/11/11

Good food, kind of expensive, mediocre service

by maggiemojo

I've been going to Cafecito for a couple of years now. There have been a few issues now and then: a person answering the phone for take out orders that didn't speak one lick of English, food arriving cold (I live 10 blocks away). However, the atmosphere is chill and I love the neighborhood-y feel to the place. Manny and Orlando are great hosts and the bussers are sweet and friendly. HOWEVER, there is a new waitress (server) that's been there for several months now...SHE SUCKS! Man, her attitude stinks, she is sloooooow and she forgets things all the time! The kicker is that she will give you an attitude if you remind her about something she forgot to bring you! It's really too bad because several friends have experienced this independently. Recently we were wondering where to go for dinner and Cafecito came up, that's when we realized none of us could bear to deal with her. It's too bad really, I really liked that place. I will continue to stop in, but I will eat at the counter if she's still working there.

1 Star Rating: Poor

03/29/10

St. Patricks Day Nightmare.....

by Michelle3kids

Well I have been to Cafecito's since it opened up. I actually thought it was great to open up a cuban spot in the east village being that I am latin and grew up here my whole life. I made friends with Staff I might say really quick because I love drinks and eating great latin food, and I thought highly of Owners/ Manager/ staff. At first I noticed that they enjoyed my presence and appreciated that I also brought them so much business. I actually sent all my local friends and even strangers and always highly recommended thier establishment. cafecito's staff treated me with respect as to an occasional free drink, or an appetizer not that I didnt have the money but out of thankfullness through my loyalty to them. But I started to notice that once they became very successful they no longer treated me VIP but rather more like who are you ...It was very noticeable and others like myself noticed as well. But I still gave them a visit and ordered thier meals through delivery and had occasional drinks at the bar. If I was too loud at the bar they actually would remove me and my guest friend. I also was insulted by one of the owners as to which kitchen staff cook would be my choice when they all knew I was in a relationship for numerous years. Well to make a long story short last St. Patricks became a nightmare because someone dear to me was violently assaulted in the clear view of Cafecito Owner who admits he seen what happened.So my thing is that all these years of my loyalty to these Clowns have proven that I totally lost all respect for each one of them. When I arrived in front of Cafecito, there was my loved one being put on a stretcher and the results were pretty horrific. He underwent oral surgery, suffered other facial bruises and had a slash cut on head. As I approached the scene being that I live by cafecito I got no answers.Not one manager or owner was out in front to see that victim of a violent act was taken properly to hospital.Instead they were all more concerned about making thier business go on as if nothing had happened in front of Cafecitos. I had actually spoken to one of owners through my friend who was assaulted at around nine pm and ten min after he suffered the violent crime..Clearly I got a clear message that they dont care about the people that have been loyal to them but are greedy self centered businessman. I will never step foot into thier establisment Cafecito's or Royale because after seven years they are full of Sh_ _.... If I want a good cuban meal there are about all over the city and authentic cuban meals...My final message to all that enjoy Cafecito's just keep your guards up cause the fake smiles are there........Thank You

  • Pros: Great Churrasco .....
  • Cons: They do rush you out on a busy night to seat the next .
2 Star Rating: Below Average

03/20/10

Mgmnt values table space more than customer loyalty

by shbnm

Due to the cramped space and crowds, they barely let you finish and ask you to leave the table! Incredible. Everything about it was average, but tolerable, but the worst were the house rules. They have wierd rules: you can make reservations only for 6 or more, and they expect everyone to arrive together. If some members of the party arrive earlier than rest, they do not allow to sit at the table, unless all arrive!! Stay away on busy weekend nights or be prepared to eat slow-cooked food at fast-food pace! We went this Saturday night, and faced the brunt of all those rules. Will not go back again.

  • Pros: good mojitos
  • Cons: terrible customer service policies
4 Star Rating: Recommended

02/09/09

Love Cafecito in Summer and Winter

by AMandK

Friday would not be Friday without a great meal at Cafecito. The pollo, the salad with shrimp. Fantastic. We love the staff, too. Our grandson is also a very big fan!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/29/08

Great spot to share dinner!

by jackod

Been coming here for ages. Great for dates or dinner with friends. Food is not too expensive, service is always solid. Good tequila selection! Cuban music is present, but you won't have any trouble hearing each other.

The Details on cafecito

Place Categories:

  • great good cuban food
  • reasonable price
  • favorite small place
  • excellent sangria
  • good service
  • delicious great value
  • favorite cuban meal
  • great mojitos
  • fabulous ambience
  • delicious fresh fruit shakes
  • huge pollo cafecito
  • very good drinks
  • tasteless rice
  • not really recommend place
  • great neighborhood spot
  • nice people
  • favorite roasted chicken dish
  • warm environment
  • just right cuban cafe
  • great experience
  • great eating great latin food
  • knowledgeable very
  • recommend ropa vieja
  • always warm staff
  • great evening

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